Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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"Wait so you're saying, someone has been spying on us?" Ron asked, his eyes widened with fear after Hermione told them the squeal of Barty Crouch Jr. 

"Yeah, but I don't know how she could be hearing or even seeing us for that matter. I mean... I've haven't noticed any animals nearby looking suspiciously like Rita Skeeter did. And we would have noticed if someone was wearing their own Invisibility Cloak trailing behind us. They would have been bumped into on our ways around class." Hermione stated to them. 

"What if... it's Jordan?" Ron suggested, "I mean think about we've just met her and she happens to be the only Slytherin that can't stand Malfoy and his gang? And we figure out she can go into anyone's common room at will if she wanted to? She could have access to all our personal information." 

"There's just one problem Ron. I doubt Jordan knows anything about the dementor or that I used it on Rita Skeeter, which Barty knows. So if Jordan doesn't know, how could she inform Barty the information? Actually the bigger problem with it, is how could Jordan even get to Barty to inform him. They have him carefully guarded and put him under no visitors of the Public." Hermione asked him. 

"Didn't she say her Mum works at the Ministry? Her mum could be the one informing him." Ron suggested to them. Hermione was about to open her mouth when Harry cut in. 

"What do you think Barty was going to say about Snape? You know the mentioning of what he did to my parents?" he asked. Hermione turned her head to look at Harry. He appeared more down than usual. 

"I'm sorry, Harry. But Snape jumped Barty before he could say anything else to me." Hermione explained to him. 

"He could have been making the whole thing up. I mean, Snape? Promising to take care of Harry? Yeah, right. And after the years of Snape mistreating and abusing Harry in his own classroom." Ron mumbled under his breath. 

"I don't think he was making it up. The way Snape reacted, it all felt real to me." Hermione admitted. They were rounding the corner when they came to a halt when they saw Professor Umbridge walking down the hallway, clipboard in hand. 

"What's she doing?" Hermione asked as they watched her vanish at the end of the hall. 

"Oh, right! You didn't heard. Umbridge has been made Hogwarts High Inquisitor. She's been sitting in everyone's classrooms." Harry admitted. 

"No!" 

"Yeah!" Ron said, "You should have seen her in Trelawney's class. She was asking her these questions of how long she's been here and personal questions like who her great-great-grandmother then asked Trelawney to predict something for her. Which of course, Trelawney tries to blow it off by saying her Inner Eye does not See upon command. But then when she saw Umbridge making note about something she quickly changed her tune and stated how Umbridge will deal with great peril in the future. God, would I pay for something bad to happen to Umbridge right now." 

"This is crazy. I can't believe they're allowing her to do this." Hermione grumbled under her breath. 

"Hey! But you're in luck! I heard Fred and George saying she's planning on standing in McGonagall's class today." Ron claimed to Hermione with a grin. 

However, it was not to be when the surprise happened during Umbridge's class. They were told for their wands away and no need to talk and to read Chapter 2. However, Hermione raised her hand. It took a few minutes till Umbridge finally had to acknowledge her. 

"Yes, Miss Granger?" 

"I've read chapter two, already." 

"Then proceed to chapter three." 

"I've read that too. I've read the whole book." Hermione explained. Umbridge narrowed her eyes, clearly in disbelief about what she was saying. 

"Then you should be able to tell me what Slinkhard says about counterjinxes in chapter fifteen." 

"He says that counterjinxes are improperly named. He says 'counterjinx' is just a name people give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable. But I disagree," Hermione admitted to Umbridge. She didn't like that one bit. 

"You disagree?" she repeated. 

"Yes, I do. You see, Mr. Slinkhard just merely doesn't like jinxes. But I believe they can be useful when used defensively." Hermione claimed to her. 

"Oh you do, do you?" Professor Umbridge asked standing up, forgetting her sweet disguise, "Well, I'm afraid it is Mr. Slinkhard's opinion and not yours that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger." 

"But--" 

"That is enough. Miss Granger, I am going to take five points from Gryffindor H--" She began to threatened when suddenly, an owl came swooning through the window and landed on the desk. It dropped a letter on top of it before fluttering back through the window. Umbridge quickly turned her attention to the letter as she picked it up and opened it. Her beady eyes scanned the letter quickly before they shot wide opened. 

"I'm dismissing class earlier. Finish your chapter." Umbridge said sternly to them then scurried out of the room up to her office. Everyone glanced around at each other, curious of what happened. 

"Great! We don't have to listen to toad-face for today!" Ron cheered as they strived down the hallways. 

"But aren't you the least curious why she had to leave?" Hermione asked them. 

"Not really." Ron claimed. They were rounding the corner when suddenly they ran into McGonagall. 

"Oh! There you are Miss Granger. You are needed in Professor Dumbledore's office this minute. It is quite urgent." she claimed. Hermione jolted up as she gazed over at Harry and Ron. 

"Did he say why he needed me?" Hermione asked. 

"No. That is clearly between you and Dumbledore. I suggest you get a move on." McGonagall told her before turning around and hurrying down the hall. Hermione gave one last look at her friends before she made her way down the halls. 

Hermione walked the spiral stairwell and headed up towards Dumbledore's office door. She gently knocked against the door. 

"Come in, Miss Granger." Dumbledore's voice echoed through. Hermione opened the door and walked through the doorway. She was halfway through when she noticed there was someone sitting in front of the desk with Dumbledore behind it. 

"Miss Granger, please have a seat." Dumbledore told her. Hermione walked over till she glanced over and gasped when she saw her Grandma Elka sitting in the chair with her arms crossed her chest. She had smudges of soot and ash over her face and in her hair. Hermione took a seat beside her Grandma as Dumbledore cleared his throat. 

"Miss Granger, I don't know if you know this but you remember Voldemort had told you he is your cousin. Well now, I have discussed it with Elka and we both agree it is time you learn your about your family."